The European Union said Monday that Russia was suspected of jamming the GPS system of a plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Bulgaria on Sunday.
“We can indeed confirm that there was GPS jamming, but the plane landed safely in Bulgaria,” a European Commission spokesperson told reporters. “We have received information from the Bulgarian authorities that they suspect that this was due to blatant interference by Russia.”
The spokesperson said Europe was used to such moves. “We are of course aware and used to the threats and intimidations that are a regular component of Russia’s hostile behavior, and of course this will only reinforce further our unshakeable commitment to ramp up defense capabilities and support for Ukraine.”
The official added that the incident showed the urgency of investing in European defense and security.
GPS jamming works by sending out radio signals strong enough to drown out satellites. The device sits on the ground and pushes a frequency that blocks communication.
When it happens, the aircraft’s system can be knocked offline. Crews may have to switch it off for the rest of the flight. That creates pressure in the cockpit. It can also delay take-off and complicate landings, where GPS is often part of required procedures.
Von der Leyen had been traveling on a chartered plane arranged by the Commission. When asked whether the flight itself was the intended target, the spokesperson said: “I think the question is best asked to the Russians if indeed it is them that have carried it out.”
CNBC reported that it had contacted the Kremlin for comment. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the Financial Times the information was “incorrect.”
Bulgaria’s government confirmed the disruption in a statement, saying, “The satellite signal used for the aircraft’s GPS navigation was disrupted.” As the aircraft neared Plovdiv Airport, “the GPS signal was lost.”
An earlier note from the Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority, claimed: “Since February 2022, there has been a notable increase in [GPS] jamming and recently spoofing occurrences,” it said.
“These interferences disrupt the accurate reception of [GPS] signals, leading to various operational challenges for aircraft and ground systems.”
Von der Leyen arrived in Bulgaria on Saturday for a visit to VMZ, the country’s largest arms plant, alongside Prime Minister Rosen Jelyazkov.
Graeme Stewart, head of public sector at Check Point Software, commented: “The incident involving President von der Leyen’s aircraft underlines how cyber interference now directly threatens physical safety and political stability. GPS jamming is a well-trodden tactic in modern warfare – widely used in Ukraine to disrupt drones – but its deployment in a political context like this is rare and highly significant. It shows how hostile state actors can project power without firing a shot.
He said the wider cybersecurity implications are clear. “GPS isn’t just critical for aviation; it underpins telecommunications, logistics, shipping, and even banking systems. If it can be disrupted this easily, organisations must urgently assess their resilience.”
According to Stewart, the fact that the pilot landed safely using paper maps demonstrates the key lesson: always have a backup plan. “Cybersecurity isn’t just about preventing breaches; it’s about ensuring continuity when systems fail. Resilience, vigilance and layered defences are no longer optional – they’re survival.”
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